Venues

Season

Style

Setting

Colors

Sometimes it’s crazy to me that a wedding, a gorgeous wedding no less, can be planned in less than six months. I know it can. I planned mine in five. But when one like this Old Glory Ranch soiree comes along and I read that it was planned in four months… I’m floored. Every time. Every detail j. cota photography captured was so stunning that I’m actually amazed that it all came together so quickly. And so fabulously. Click here to see the whole day!

From the lovely bride … We have all heard the saying, “Timing is everything!” and in our story that was exactly the case. Our best friends married each other twelve years ago where we first met at their wedding, however, our journey together did not start until seven years later. After several years of dating, my husband proposed on New Years Day up on top of the mountains in Colorado at sunset, and yes, he caught me off guard! I had expected it to happen New Years Eve or perhaps earlier in the day when he surprised me for a train ride on Silverton Express. To be honest I was gazing out the window after the train on the car ride back to the cabin where I thought we were now just headed to pack up and fly out in morning and my heart was disappointed. I was trying to figure out a way to stay in Colorado because I knew there were many friends and family waiting back home to hear the “news” and I thought I didn’t have any to give them. In my mind the trip was over and meanwhile Sloan was in the driver seat trying to time the sunset and kill time to wait for the picture perfect moment, and it was.

After I was able to stop staring at the ring on my finger, it was time to plan our wedding. We knew we did not want a long engagement and I had the venue Old Glory Ranch in my mind because of the family river cabin we had during my childhood in Wimberley. To our surprise they had a date still open and I was convinced we could plan this in just four months. We were both drawn to the outdoorsy feel of Old Glory and loved the rustic décor and setting, yet did not have to compromise on an ounce of class. It was important to our faith and values to be married in a Chapel and the beauty of what they had to offer blew us away.

I love neutral colors and I am known to be simple in style, so I wanted to carry this look throughout the wedding. With such a beautiful outdoor setting for the reception looking over the Hill Country, I chose colors that would carry out these earth tones. My dress was ivory and my bridesmaids wore a fresh spring green that truly looked good on all 10 of them! This green complimented the natural wood all throughout the Old Glory Chapel. The groom’s side wore khaki colored suits with Tom’s shoes and both the boutonnieres and bridal bouquets had succulents mixed in (my husband’s favorite!) with the flowers for a Texas flare.

My dad and I rode up on a carriage to the ring of the chapel bells before the anticipated walk down the aisle. I had an antique piece of lace wrapped around my bouquet that was my grandmother’s and also wore my mom’s Belgium lace veil for the ceremony. Once we were announced husband and wife, we joyfully walked out to the tune of “Oh Happy Day” as our guests were ushered out of the chapel to the patio under the oak trees dressed with chandeliers for cocktail hour. There were mini donkeys saddled up with Mexican beers to honor Cinco De Mayo, our wedding date. Salt Lick catered the best BBQ in Texas, and we had Tiny Pies paired with blue bell ice-cream for the groom’s dessert, as well as a five tiered vanilla-almond and raspberry filling bridal cake. I traded my veil for a flower to accessorize my hair and ditched my heels so I could boot scoot boogie and kick up the dance party. We danced until midnight to the tunes of Night Fire Band and exited through an archway of bright sparklers into a 1946 antique truck. We drove away under the stars and there were bright strikes of lighting all across the sky. I believe it was God’s display of fireworks just for us as we rode into this new chapter together as Dr. and Mrs. Hildebrand.